OCT fees due; Bill 124 Remedy; Check your Pay;

Did you know that:

- your OCT annual membership fee of $200 must be paid no later than April 17th. Those who were in a LTO assignment at the beginning of January have had their fee remitted by TVDSB as noted on your paystub. N.B. Those who are late will be charged an additional penalty of $130.

- Teachers (includes LTOs and daily OTs) who are charged with a criminal offence (excluding most offences under the Highway Traffic Act), must report these charges and any restrictions to OCT on a form which is available at www.oct.ca/members/forms under Member Reporting Obligations. There is no such obligation to report a charge to the employer.

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The Bill 124 remedy will be applied to all ETFO salary grids and wages, including daily and LTO Occasional Teacher rates, retroactive to the 2019-2020 school year. The result will be a lump sum payment plus a permanent increase to income, both of which are pensionable and will be subject to the usual deductions by the Employer. This includes income tax.

Please be aware that the salary increase negotiated in this last round by Provincial ETFO will be separate - that amount will not be known until the end of arbitration which is now scheduled to begin in mid-April of this year.

TVDSB Occasional Teachers will be paid the following daily rate for the period from September 1, 2019 - August 31, 2020 per the remedy: 

• $243.15 (shown on pay stub as $233.80 + $9.35 vacation pay of 4% on separate line)

TVDSB Occasional Teachers will be paid the following daily rate for the period from September 1, 2020 - August 31, 2021 per the remedy:

• $247.41 (shown on pay stub as $237.90 + $9.51 vacation pay of 4% on separate line)

TVDSB Occasional Teachers will be paid the following daily rate for the period from September 1, 2021 - August 31, 2022 per the remedy:

• $256.69 (shown on pay stub as $246.82 + $9.87 vacation pay of 4% on separate line)

If you were in a LTO during those school years, your per diem is 1/194 of the salary grid below, recognizing that part-time FTE assignments must be pro-rated and that approved sick leave exceeding 11 days was paid at 90 per cent salary. This salary grid does include the 4% vacation pay:

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TVOT members are urged to frequently check their pay stubs (available in the TVDSB  Employee Portal) for any errors.  Under the terms of Article L7.12 of our Collective Agreement, there is a time limit of 12 months for the Board to address any underpayments or overpayments.

N.B. No daily Occasional Teacher will be paid for less than a half day, as provided by Article L7.03. 

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Protect your home from basement flooding

After a cold winter, the springtime is a welcome change. But with the longer days and warmer weather comes new challenges. The potential for flooding increases as the snow melts and heavy rain falls. Canadians are experiencing more floods than ever before. According to the Government of Canada, flooding has increased 300% since the 1960s. But many homeowners haven't taken the proper steps to protect themselves or their properties. No matter what area you live in, flooding can happen to you. Don't wait for the water – take these proactive steps to minimize your risk of a flood damaging your home.

Read more at www.otip.com/article180. #OTIPUpdate

Your TVOT Local reminds members to keep track of any lost prep periods (date, school, class and minutes lost) as the Local is working to once again negotiate that members receive compensation for this violation of our Collective Agreement.

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Demystifying Responsible Investing: what you need to know

“Sustainable”. “Green”. “Ethical”. “Responsible”.

Although described in many different ways, investing in funds or companies that reflect your beliefs and values has been one of the fastest-growing investment trends in recent years. Around the world, investors expect to increase the share of sustainably invested assets from 18% to 37% by 2025.

 If you’re one of the many investors interested in supporting environmental, social, and corporate governance causes, here’s what you need to know: https://bit.ly/494oGxS.

Participate in our survey for a chance to win! Your opinions matter to us. In partnership witj OTIP, we've created a short survey to seek your feedback. Complete our short Spring Survey for a chance to WIN one of ten $50 gift cards* of your choice. But hurry, you only have until May 17, 2024: https://bit.ly/4a55dyh

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Win an iPad! April 8th Virtual Paid PD; Columbia Outlet Invitation; TVDSB Mandatory Online Training; New ETFO Anti-Racism Online Resource

 

Just 2 days left to win one of 10 iPads!

Take 3 minutes to complete the ETFO Provincial 2023-2024 All-Member Survey and you could win one of 10 iPads!   If you need assistance with the survey please contact ETFO Member Records at memberrecords@etfo.org.

All responses remain confidential so click https://ncv.microsoft.com/rHaevAlvTJ for your chance to win!

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Paid Paid PD sessions for April 8th are now available for registration in the TVDSB Employee Portal under the Elementary Occasional Teacher PD conference. Each session counts as a half-day of teaching.  

Sessions include:  

• · "Culturally Relevant and Responsive Approaches for Affirming Student Identities" (virtual)
• ·  "Surviving and Thriving as an OT in the FSL classroom" (virtual)
• ·  " Unlocking Creative Teaching Tools" (virtual)

 For questions about eligibility for paid PD, please contact Terri Manning in Staff Development at t.manning@tvdsb.ca . 

Register in the TVDSB Employee Portal under Conference / Session Registrations > Elementary Occasional Teacher PD. 

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- Article L18.05 entitles all OTs/LTOs to a lunch break of no less than 40 consecutive minutes.

- Article L16.05(a) says that the Board will provide a minimum of 2 hours notice of cancellation of any pre-arranged daily assignment, otherwise the OT will be paid for the full assignment.

- Article L7.03 remuneration paid to daily OTs will be pro-rated for assignments less than a full day however, the minimum a daily OT will be paid is for one-half day.

- Article L18.02 confirms that a daily OT follows the timetable of the Teacher they are replacing. (same prep period and no additional duties)

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TVDSB Annual Mandatory Online Training will be open April 1, 2024 and must be completed by all OTs/LTOs by June 28/24 for payment. Completion is a condition of employment. N.B. LTOs may have already covered some of these modules in staff meetings during their assignment.

To access the modules, log into the Employee Portal > Employee Training (right hand side) and complete those modules listed as "2023 - 2024 OTE Required Training".

The modules this year are:

• Anaphylaxis
• Asthma
• Diabetes
• Epilepsy
• Concussion
• Preventing Slips, Trips and Falls
• October - Fire Code
• Video 1 Awareness
• Employee Incident Reporting and Safe School Incident Reporting
• Safe Schools and Employee Incident Reporting Decision Tool Flowchart 
• Hazard Awareness Training
• Domestic Violence 
• WHMIS
• Cyber Security Part 1 and Part 2
• Privacy Training

The Annual Offence Declaration, and ITS Security Declaration must be completed by August 31, 2024.

Payment will show in TVARRIS as HR1 with payment taking place July 12th.

Be sure to press submit after completing each module. If it has been recorded, the checkmark will still be there when you next log in.

RETIREES: If you have not reserved a day for this training, please contact Terri Manning  t.manning@tvdsb.ca in Staff Development to discuss your options.

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Provincial ETFO has created a new online Teacher resource, "Race Matters: Teaching Students to be Race Conscious" designed to help primary, junior and intermediate classes examine race, racism and anti-black racism. Access this new resource at www.etfo.ca Secure > Classroom Resources. 

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Lamplighter Inn paid PD Event and Dinner; Your Collective Agreement; Columbia Outlet invitation; Withdrawing students from EQAO; Check your payslips; Occasional Teacher retention crisis

Some spots are still available for our March 27th paid PD event and dinner being held at the Lamplighter Inn in London from 4:30 - 7:30 PM. Each session counts as a half-day of teaching for those that are eligible to participate. (Contact Terri Manning in Staff Development at t.manning@tvdsb.ca if you have questions).

Our "Kindergarten Literacy" session is fully booked but TVOT members can still register for either:

- "Unlocking Assessment for Learning: how to use leraning goals, success criteria, evidence and feedback to transform student learning" or

 - "Reaching and Teaching Them All: making quick and lasting connections with every student in your classroom". 

We look forward to meeting you there.

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Are you aware that your Collective Agreement states:

- L7.03   Remuneration paid to Occasional Teachers will be pro-rated for assignments to positions on less than a full-time basis, but in no circumstances will a Short-Term Occasional Teacher be paid for less than one-half (1/2) day.  For the purposes of this article, one hundred and fifty (150) minutes equal one-half (1/2) day.

- L7.12  An Occasional Teacher shall only be required to reconcile an overpayment for the twelve (12) month period prior to an error being discovered. The Board shall only be required to reconcile an underpayment for the twelve (12) month period prior to an error being discovered. Any overpayment reconciliation plan shall be with the mutual agreement of the Union and the Occasional Teacher. An overpayment plan shall commence within two months of the discovery of the error.  Any underpayment shall be made on the next possible pay date or in a manner mutually agreeable to the Union and the Occasional Teacher. 

- L39.03    “Long-Term Occasional Teacher” means an Occasional Teacher who is required to teach for a period of ten (10) or more consecutive teaching days as a substitute for the same Teacher.

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             Sometimes mistakes happen so we encourage members to regularly check their TVDSB pay stubs in the Employee Portal. If a call to the Board's payroll helpline doesn't solve your issue, then please contact your TVOT Local at etfotvot@gmail.com

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       Paid PD sessions for April 8th are now available for registration in the TVDSB Employee Portal under the Elementary Occasional Teacher PD conference.

       Virtual half-day sessions include: "Culturally Relevant and Reponsive Approaches for Affirming Student Identities";  "Surviving and Thriving as an OT in the FSL classroom" and " Unlocking Creative Teaching Tools".

      There is also one in-person half-day session: " Implementing the Essential Conditions for Learning Foldables".  

      For questions about eligibility for paid PD, please contact Terri Manning in Staff Development at t.manning@tvdsb.ca

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 As a member of the Ontario Teachers' Federation (OTF), all TVOT members have access to OTF's excellent professional development sessions. Upcoming March virtual workshops include:

- Building integrated curriculum to support intermediate literacy and language skills (March 26th from 4:30 -5:30 PM)

- Junior Literacy - Tending the Fire (March 28th from 4:30 - 5:45 PM)

Additional topics are slated for April so for more information and registration visit https://www.otffeo.on.ca/en/learning/otf-connects/webinars/  

Past OTF workshops are archived at https://www.otffeo.on.ca/en/learning/otf-connects/resources/

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Salary for LTOs/QECO; Lost Prep time; OTIP Contest; TVOT Office Spring Break

Are you in a LTO? If so, you may not be receiving adequate pay for this year's long-term assignment(s). As an LTO, you are eligible for salary that reflects your qualifications and teaching experience, however the onus is on you to provide the Board with a QECO / Qualifications Rating Statement (or a card indicating that your rating is in progress), prior to July 31st for retroactive adjustment. N.B. The QECO application process can take several weeks.

1. To obtain a QECO rating, follow the instructions at www.qeco.on.ca or call QECO at 1-800-385-1030 and request an application form.
2. Once you have received your rating, submit the results to TVDSB Staffing Officer Jessica Grison Roeder at j.grisonroeder@tvdsb.ca before the July deadline or forward a copy of the confirmation card if your application is in process but will not be available by the due date.

The same July 31st deadline applies to proof of any post-certification teaching experience outside of TVDSB. Be sure to submit those documents to HR so that you can advance on the salary grid. 

Do not hesitate to contact the ETFO TVOT Local at etfotvot@gmail.com for further details or assistance.

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Your Collective Agreement Provides:

L18.02      The timetable for an Occasional Teacher shall be the same as the timetable of the Teacher being replaced except as set forth in Articles L18.03 and L18.05.

L18.03    (a)     Unless hired for a long-term occasional assignment in accordance with the provisions of Article L14, an Occasional Teacher shall not be assigned supervisory duties prior to the commencement of class on the first morning of an assignment or prior to the commencement of the afternoon class on the first day if it is a half-day afternoon assignment.

(b)      Where an Occasional Teacher is hired for a vacancy for preparation time coverage, IPRC coverage, etc., that Occasional Teacher shall be assigned no more than one supervisory duty.

(c)     If the assignment is for the Occasional Teacher to provide preparation time payback in full day assignment, then that Occasional Teacher shall be provided with a minimum of forty (40) minutes preparation time at the beginning of the assignment. 

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LOST PREP PERIODS -Occasional Teachers/LTOs are reminded to keep a record of the dates and number of minutes lost of any scheduled prep periods that they are denied. This violates our Collective Agreement and the Local will again be seeking compensation for such lost time.

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Your TVOT Office will be closed from Friday afternoon, March 8th/24 until the morning of Monday, March 18/24. If you have an emergency which requires ETFO Provincial legal assistance (see below), please contact their office at 1-888-838-3836.